The Way It was MEANT to Be:  So Neutral!

Okay, so I’m pretty the Urban Decay Naked Palette was designed with neutral looks in mind, not so much the ultra smoky look I did yesterday.  So this neutral look follows that smokier look up as a quick, work-safe alternative made easy by that palette.

Happy weekend everyone!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), Urban Decay Virgin Eyeshadow (light champagne beige), Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow (matte medium brown), Urban Decay Darkhorse Eyeshadow (dark chocolate brown), MAC Grain Eyeshadow (highlighter), Urban Decay Whiskey 24/7 Liner (red-brown), Bobbi Brown Denim Extreme Party Mascara (blue)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: Chanel Plum Attraction Blush (deep plum)
• Lips: Chanel Emotive (#68) Rouge Allure Lipstick (red-wine), Urban Decay Perversion Lip Junkie (purple-gray)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush), 208 (thin, angled brush)

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249.  Using the 239, apply Naked eyeshadow into the crease with the 226 and feather above the natural crease until it fades.  Next, apply Virgin eyeshadow all over the lower lid with the 239.  Define the crease with Darkhorse eyeshadow using the 219, and then lightly blend Naked eyeshadow softly over it with the 226.  Blend Grain eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Whiskey liner on the lower lash line.  Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Plum Attraction blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Emotive lipstick first, and then layer Perversion lip junkie for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

Softer Makeup:  Going Coral — Once More, With Feeling!

Just a quickie look here… something neutral so I could do some lip swatches! Ironically, this combination of eyeshadows recreates the look I did last week in a way–it’s subtler, softer, but the strength of Coral Crepe really seems to keep everything in the same family.

Note: I’m also testing out Laura Mercier’s Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer, but the shade is one too dark for me (it’s Almond, for reference, which I think is suitable for NC30/NC35)–I mention this because you can tell I’m just a little “bronzed” in the photos. I’ll be trying Sand, which should be a better fit, soon, but for now, I’m just wearing it for feel/texture, even if the shade doesn’t match!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), MAC Coral Crepe Paint Pot (coral), Cle de Peau #1 Eyeshadow (champagne white), Cle de Peau #114 Eyeshadow (pink), Cle de Peau #111 Eyeshadow (dark brown), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (highlighter), Guerlain Mirage Khol (brown), MAC NC15/NW20 Chromagraphic Pencil (nude), MAC Opulash Mascara (black)
• Face: Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer (Almond)
• Cheeks: YSL Golden Sand Terre Saharienne (bronze), NARS Enchanted Cream Blush (sheer peach)
• Lips: MAC Kraft Lipstick (peached brown), MAC Fold and Tuck Lipglass (coral)
• Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: N/A

For eyes, start by applying Coral Crepe paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the lid area with the 249, andn then apply Soft Ochre paint pot from crease to brow. Using the 239, apply #1 eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply #114 eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with #111 eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Lightly blend #111 eyeshadow, with the 239, on the outer corner and lid. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Mirage khol on the lower water line and NC15/NW20 pencil lightly patted below the lower lash line and smudged with the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Opulash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Enchanted cream blush on cheeks as a base, and then layer Golden Sand bronzer to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Kraft lipstick first, and then layer Fold and Tuck lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

I look a little orange or bronzed, because I am was testing
out a new tinted moisturizer, but the shade is a wee darker than my
actual skin tone.  But I didn’t want to toss the whole look out the
window, so let’s just go with super bronze, okay?

Work-Safe Makeup:  Quick Neutrals

Here’s a super simple, quick, easy, work-safe, everyday… yada yada kind of look. It’s quick & dirty but always looks classic. You can change-up the lip to lighten or amplify the look, too

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Estee Lauder Sand Shimmer Liquid Eyeshadow (champagne), MAC Prepped for Glamour Eyeshadow (reddish taupe), NARS Black Moon Eyeliner Pencil (black-brown), tokidoki Unicorno Brillante Glitter Eyeliner (white-gold), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140)
• Cheeks: Guerlain Blonde Bronzer (reddish bronzer)
• Lips: Guerlain Ebene (06) Terracotta Gloss (darkened red bronze)
• Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: N/A

For eyes, start by applying Sand Shimmer as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Darken the outer third of the lid with Prepped for Glamour eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Bring everything together by applying Black Moon eyeliner on the lower lash line and Unicorno eyeliner lightly below. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Blonde Halee bronzer to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Ebene lipgloss for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

Easy Makeup: Soft & Sweet for Spring

I wanted to wear Stylesetter, so I figured a softer eye would be best, because Stylesetter is pretty bright on its own. I don’t know if I’ve done a combination with these kinds of colors before, but I was pleasantly surprised at how it turned out.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Urban Decay Eden Primer Potion (matte base), MAC Nylon Eyeshadow MAC Bright Sunshine Eyeshadow (PRO) (white gold), (sunshine yellow), MAC Expensive Pink Eyeshadow (dirty pink), MAC Satin Taupe Eyeshadow (dark taupe brown), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Urban Decay Bourbon 24/7 Liner (brown), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: DiorSkin Nude Foundation (021 Linen), Laura Mercier Setting Powder
• Cheeks: Dior Coral Riviera Blush (coral-pink), Dior Rose Diamond SkinShimmer (rosy pink highlighter)
• Lips: MAC Stylesetter Lipstain Marker (brightened pink)
• Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes:  Femme-fi = Nylon; Stylesetter = Girl About Town (blotted)

For eyes, start by applying Eden primer potion as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Nylon eyeshadow on the inner half of the eyelid. Next, apply Bright Sunshine eyeshadow on the outer half of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer crease with Expensive Pink eyeshadow with the 226, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Add depth to the crease by lightly applying Satin Taupe eyeshadow into the outer, lower crease with the 219. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Bourbon eyeliner on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Coral Riviera blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116. Highlight cheekbones by applying Rose Diamond skinshimmer with the 165 onto the tops of cheeks.

For lips, apply Stylesetter lipstain marker for a brightened pink stain.

Check out more photos!